18. The War

Hannan was placed at the top right of the continent. Surrounded by two countries with Leran at the south and Coran at the west.

Two countries that was weirdly seperated yet still worked together. The country of Leran and Coran was lead by a single Royal Family.

Making the King of the two actual brothers.

And as war is a normal course of things in a non peaceful world, both the countries got hungry for land at one point and decided to invade the country that they both surrounded.

But after a futile 10 year war, they were both losing. And the reason was quite simple. It was because Hannan was a rich country.

Hannan was a trading country that it's riches is just behind that of Valhalla, making it the second richest country in the continent. But of course that deosn't mean it's close to Valhalla at all.

And so with Hannan's money, supplies and even extra warriors are expendable.

When Leran and Coran needs time to ressuply their soldiers and to hire some additional mercenaries, with the war going on, they started losing way too much money. When Hannan still had loads.

But it's not like the two countries are weak at all. It was just that they did not have the money to have a long war, and Hannan did.

And so their sole strength was able to hold them for a couple of years. Which then, from an initial invation of Hannan, to becoming an invation OF Hannan.

"Nice to meet you Ryu."

"It is an honor to meet you brother Radil."

Ryu bowed his entire body to a 90 degree angle.

"So what brings you to my city."

"I was on a journey."

"Well I did not expect that my sick brother is going on a journey with just a couple knights."

"Sick? What sick?"

"Weren't you sick...?"

Despite not coming out in the open that frequent that you can count it with just your hands. It was not like all info has been blocked about the Prince.

They were just real hard informations to be gathered as the years went by, or to be more precise and real, the more Ryu aged.

And so every high noble and most of the princes knew that the 36th Prince was a smart person above his real age.

That was all that they could really get, and it was also very vague. There were also some rumors everyone disregarded because of its absurdity, and that was rumors stemmed from Captain Gordon looking like he was beaten to a pul every so often he came back training with the Prince.

They all just thought of it as the Princess's doing.

And so, when Radil heard that Ryu was trying to visit him, there was definitely something wrong.

The news of him being sick and couldn't move properly as time went by was definitely what people thought.

So with him being here it was definitely a huge possibility. But when Radil met Ryu, he was totally not expecting for him to directly answer and prove a lie.

'Wait what? Did he just admit it like that?'

"The reason for you not coming out of the palace?"

"Oh that...!"

"Yes."

"It wasn't because I am sick."

"Then..."

At this point Radil was in conflict with his thoughts, changing from he is pulling something, or that he really is just a six year old who knows nothing.

That is why, what came out of the Prince mouth next was just not expected, by even the Knights that new...

"It was to protect me by being targeted by politics and hungry siblings and Queens by being the un announced Crown Prince."

"What!"

That what was not from Radil. Radil was just staring with his eyes wide speachless. The what was from a spy the King put up to hide Ryu from being known by the outside world.

As his expedition was supposed to be a secret until he got out of the country and admitted to the academy safely.

"Prince! What are you saying!"

"What? Can I not?" Ryu smiled.

But of course the entire thing was not because he was stupid. But because he really could care less.

"So you're the Crown Prince...?"

Radil's eyes were twitching while looking at Ryu.

"Are your eyes ok brother?"

Even tho he was only the 15th Prince, his dreams or ambitions to becoming the official Crown Prince and becoming King was of course something even he had.

Radil originally didn't want to believe it. But the more he tries to think about it, it just made sense.

A Prince that didn't go out of the palace because he was sick? Even the Princes younger than him goes out of the palace.

And now that he is out and about with no sickness, it just made sense.

Also taking consideration that the King stopped talking or looking for the right Crown Prince less than usual when the 36th Princes first birthday.

'It all makes sense.'

Bloodlust formed around Radil. He wanted to kill his brother at that moment. It doesn't matter at all. If he does get caught he could just rile up the other Princes to over throw the King who hides a heir to the public.

But before he could even do such a thing a loud noise was heard outside.

"What was that!"

It was an attack. The city of Helder never had a defensive barrier because they act as a city not unpenetrable but unprouchable.

And so... an attack to the walls was something that has never happened before.

"Ravil check what happened. I'll go get my sword!"

Radil immediately ran as soon as he can. The situation was not a simple attack, but an attack that was able to survive the City's offense.

Something that is completely unheard of.

"Should we go?"

Said by Ryu as Radil was running straight to the wall that has exploded. He did 't even say anything to the Prince which signified in Ryu's head, that he really didn't see him as a brother, but a man to kill.

"Go where Prince?"

"Help the war of course."

"But... why..."

"Helder should be unprouchable right? Well I should atlesst show the world how strong I am."

Ryu ran towards the walls while yelling to his Knights to come with him.

"Everyone! Let's go!"

There really was nothing he could think of to say...

***

"What happened?!"

"Knight Caprain Ravil!"

"Coran is lesding an army of 10 thousands with an impeneteable artifact."

"What artifact?"

"Coran has a Star Mage with them."

Ravil's eyes widened as he wanted to start panicking.

"Immediately send a military support to the Capital!"

"!"

And so as Ravil stood on top of the wall looking at the magic artileries, the mages of the city was starting to remove the Offensive barrier and starting to put a defensive one.

The city of Helder was in a dire situation. And is in the worst possible predicament in the history of the war.

"Where did they get a Star Mage."

Ravil was biting his nails as his sweat poured down his head.

"A Star Mage..."

"Radil!"

"Did you say a Star Mage!"

"Ye-"

The magic Barrier was immediately destroyed at a single attack.

The army was not playing around. And before the two and some of the knights on the wall could even react.

A man appeared flying in front of them. It was none other than the Star Mage.

"The 15th Prince of Hannan, this will be a fitting grave for you."

It was an old man with a beard covering his entire face and a length going down to his chest. With his entire hair all white.

"Why is a Star Mage at Coran!"

"Because I was paid a lot of money. So bye."

Before Radil could even ask any more questions nor even react. Ravil was instantly killed.

"Ra-"

And so was he. With the two leading people of the City, the Knights on the tower with them started panicking and running. But all of them died soon by the hands of the Star Mage.

"Well what an idiot, he died just like that."

The Star Mage heard the voice of a little kid. Which made him confused as to why a kid would be at the castle gates while they were getting invaded.

And what he said was somethinf a child wouldn rarely even say and will never say when you there is a dead body and a war going on.

"Why is a kid roaming around here. Are you lost?"

The kid came out and he saw him climb up from the ladder.

"I ddin't even get to know my brother. We even only talked once, and then you wanted to kill me."

Said by the kid mockingly.

"Did you not hesr me! I said what is a Ki-"

A light beam came out of the kids fingers that was directed towards the Star Mage. Making the Star Mage immediately block the attack with everything he has because he was instinctively scared.

"What the-"

"Did you know... a person changes a lot when they have a wife."

Another beam came out when the Star Mage was able to block his attack barely.

"Who the fuck are you!"

The Star mage blocked the attack once again, but that was his limit. The kid attacked once more and the Star Mage that was flying on the sky, fell down to the ground.

"I am the 36th Prince, you bitch."

Said by Ryu as he posed as cool as he possibly could as he watched the walls of the city breaking and people dying all around him.

"Wait... I forgot to ask how he was able to fly!"

Like they say, you win some, you lose some.